Women at High Breast Cancer Risk Should Consider Preventive Drugs: Experts

July 9, 2013 -- Women at high risk of breast cancer should discuss with their doctors the use of so-called chemopreventive drugs to reduce that risk, according to a new practice guideline issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
The new guideline updates the previous one, issued in 2009, said Dr. Kala Visvanathan, director of the clinical cancer genetics and prevention service at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, who co-chaired the guidelines panel.

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http://www.drugs.com/news/women-breast-cancer-risk-should-consider-preventive-experts-45805.html

University of East Anglia scientists make major advance important for cancer research

Above: EB2 (green) expressed in stem cell region of gut with microtubules in red (credit: Deborah Goldspink) 

University of East Anglia scientists make major advance important for cancer research

Dr Mette Mogensen’s lab from UEA's School of Biological Sciences has made a major advancement in understanding tissue development that has important implications for cancer. Findings published today in the Journal of Cell Science show how the protein EB2 is a key regulator of tube-like...

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http://www.uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2013/June/cancer-research-microtubules

Cancer Fighting Fish: Source of New Drugs?

 During the process known as metastasis, cancer cells detach from the bulk of the tumor and colonize distant organs. In order to do so, they enter the blood circulation by attaching to the cells that constitute tumor vessels. This event is driven by interactions occurring between Galβ1–3GalNAcα1-Ser/Thr, a disaccharide present on the surface of tumor cells, and galectin-3, a protein situated on vascular cells.

 http://www.chemistryviews.org/details/news/4540321/Cancer_Fighting_Fish_Source_of_New_Drugs.html

• Cod glycopeptide with picomolar affinity to galectin-3 suppresses T-cell apoptosis and prostatecancer metastasis,
  P. Guha, E. Kaptan, G. Bandyopadhyaya, S. Kaczanowska, E. Davila, K. Thompson, S. S. Martin, D. V. Kalvakolanu, G. R. Vasta, H. Ahmed,
  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2013.
  DOI: 10.1073/PNAS.1202653110

Garlic in India

 

 

Garlic in India

The ancient Indians had varying views on garlic; but, for the most part, it was considered to be highly beneficial to the body. Ancient Sanskrit writings, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago, described the healing properties of garlic. In fact, the ancient medical practice of Ayurveda, which is still practised today, promoted garlic as one of the most important herbs. It recommends garlic in over 100 formulations for treating stomach, liver, tumor, asthma and other similar problems.

The Charaka Samhita is the oldest surviving Ayurvedic text, dating back to 200 BCE to 200 CE (AD), and suggests using garlic for alleviating:

• worms
• piles
• leukoderma
• leprosy
• epilepsy
• heart disease
• fainting
• arthritis
• rheumatism
• chronic rhinitis
• baldness.

 It was also included in the diet of nursing mothers to encourage milk secretion in nursing mothers and was hung to protect against evil spirits.

Other Ayurvedic teachings recommend garlic for:

• arteriosclerosis
• pain
• cholera
• dysentery
• indigestion
• constipation
• appetite loss
• fatigue
• typhoid
• tuberculosis
• cough
• fractures. 

It is also advocated for improving eyesight, intelligence, sexual debility, and impotency.

On the other hand, the ancient Indians believed garlic was a natural aphrodisiac that inspired lust and stimulated passions and, as a result, holy men, monks, widows, adolescents, and fasting persons were forbidden from consuming garlic. In addition, it was considered to be rajasic food; which meant it had unsettling effects on the body and devotees on the path to spiritual enlightenment were advised against eating it. The Buddists, Jains, Greeks and Romans also shared these sentiments; however, some believe the mild irritation garlic caused in the genitourinary tract may have resulted in its aphrodisiac and rajasic status.

References:

1. Charaka Samhita (Handbook on Ayurveda), edited by G. Van Loon (2002)

Chocolate as medicine: a quest over the centuries

The rehabilitation of chocolate has occurred only in recent times. The pages of scientific magazines have been positively recaptured and chocolate’s reputation is being restored to the value that Carl Linnaeus credited to this food, when he named the generous plant Theobroma cacao, the food of the gods
read all at
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2013/07/chocolate-medicine-wilson-hurst

EMA Releases Draft Guidance on Development of Asthma Medications

By Alexander Gaffney, RF News Editor 

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released a new general guidance document on the development of medicinal products intended to treat asthma, a condition that restricts a patient's airways and can be fatal if improperly treated.

Background and Overview

The document, Draft note for guidance on clinical investigation of medicinal products for treatment of asthma, is meant to provide general advice on the development of asthma products, including clinical development programs

EMA Releases Draft Guidance on Development of Asthma Medications

Verona Pharma Plc Peer-Reviewed Paper Suggests RPL554 With Glycopyrrolate, Or Other Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists, Produces Synergistic Bronchodilation

RPL554

Verona Pharma Plc ("Verona Pharma" Or The "Company") Peer-Reviewed ...

Wall Street Journal
Verona Pharma is developing first-in-class drugs to treat respiratory disease, such as COPD, asthma and chronic, severe cough. The Company has three drug programmes, two of which are in Phase II. The lead programme, RPL554, is an innovative dual ...
read all at
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130701-900428.html?mod=googlenews_wsj



RPL-554 (LS-193,855) is a drug which acts as a long-acting inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase enzymes PDE-3 and PDE-4, producing both bronchodilator and antiinflammatory effects.^[1] It is being developed by Verona Pharma as a potential treatment for asthma and hay fever, and is currently in clinical trials.^[2][3]

1.  Boswell-Smith V, Spina D, Oxford AW, Comer MB, Seeds EA, Page CP. The Pharmacology of Two Novel Long-Acting Phosphodiesterase 3/4 Inhibitors, RPL554 (9,10-Dimethoxy-2-(2,4,6-trimethylphenylimino)-3-(N-carbamoyl-2-aminoethyl) -3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrimido(6,1-a)isoquinolin-4-one) and RPL565 (6,7-Dihydro-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenoxy)-9,10-dimethoxy-4H-pyrimido(6,1-a)isoquinolin-4-one). Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 2006; 318(2):840-848.
2.  Verona Pharma Plc - Lead Drug RPL554
3.  Asthma and hay fever drug tested. BBC News, Wednesday 10 September 2008